They Came to Cordura (1959)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Robert Rossen

Writers:

Ivan Moffat (screenplay) &
Robert Rossen (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

June 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History | War | Western

Tagline:

Slashing Story of a Desert Warrior Who Fought His Way From HELL TO GLORY !

Plot:

An army major, himself guilty of cowardice, is asked to recommended soldiers for the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Mexican Border Incursion of 1916.

Plot Keywords:

Medal Of Honor | 1916 | Cavalry Charge | Cowardice | Pancho Villa

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Maj. Thomas Thorn
Rita Hayworth	...	Adelaide Geary
Van Heflin	...	Sgt. John Chawk
Tab Hunter	...	Lt. William Fowler
Richard Conte	...	Cpl. Milo Trubee
Michael Callan	...	Pvt. Andrew Hetherington
Dick York	...	Pvt. Renziehausen
Robert Keith	...	Col. Rogers
Carlos Romero	...	Arreaga
Jim Bannon	...	Capt. Paltz (as James Bannon)
Edward Platt	...	Col. DeRose
Maurice Jara	...	Mexican federale
Sam Buffington	...	First Correspondent
Arthur Hanson	...	Second Correspondent

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #19173) | West Germany:16 (f) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Baroda Productions

Trivia:

Gary Cooper was very ill during production, and was actually filming against the advice of his doctors.

Quotes:

Opening crawl: On the night of March 8th, 1916, a large mounted force of Mexican rebels under Pancho Villa crossed the American border and attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing and wounding both American civilians and soldiers. As a result of this action...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service: Hometown Hero (#2.21)" (2005)

They Came to Cordura

Take Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth, surround them with a core of actors who are still well-known today, add beautiful scenery, tackle a very interesting philosophical question. What's not to like? As it turns out, there's a lot not to like. Coop's role is to portray a world-weary, duty-bound officer, obsessed with heroism. Diappointingly, "wooden" would best describe his take on the role. Hayworth, as tequila-drinking, cigarette-smoking, comforter-of-America's-enemies is, at times, over the top. She's still got the sexy sizzle she's known for, but the sexual tension between her and the men isn't compelling. The supporting members of the cast are supposed to devolve from heroes to louts, but their hand is tipped so early in the movie, that their later actions are expected--not deplored. It's a dark western that would appear to be yin to "The Magnificent Seven"'s yang. Heroes become brutes--brutes become heroes. The later is a lot more entertaining and--a lot more satisfying.